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Uber and Bolt negative balance: how to pay it by M-PESA

Why the balance goes negative, the exact in-app steps to clear it on Uber and Bolt, the limits before you are blocked, and what to do if a payment does not show.

DW
by Reviewed by Josephine Njeri 5 min read Updated 29 October 2026Verified 29 Oct 2026

Why the balance goes negative

When a rider pays cash, the whole fare goes into your pocket, including the part that belongs to the app. The app records its share as money you owe. Card and M-PESA trips are paid to the app first, so it takes its share before paying you. If you do mostly cash trips, your balance drops below zero.

Paying an Uber negative balance

From Uber's Kenya service fee page:

  1. Open the Uber Driver app and go to Inbox.
  2. Tap View payment details, then Start Now.
  3. Enter the amount. It can be anything from the minimum due up to your full negative balance, but not more.
  4. Choose M-PESA, enter your M-PESA number, and approve the prompt with your PIN.

Airtel Money and debit or credit cards work the same way from the same screen. Uber's driver earnings page also points to t.uber.com/paykenya for M-PESA or a direct bank deposit. Type that address yourself.

Your Uber balanceWhat happens
Below minus KES 5,000You start getting top-up reminders
Below minus KES 10,000Account blocked until you settle
After a payment notice2 days to pay at least the minimum

Paying the minimum reactivates a blocked account, but the next payment notice comes sooner. How often you are asked to pay depends on how much cash you collect.

Paid but the balance has not changed

  1. Do not pay again. Uber says payments show instantly but the balance can take up to 48 hours to settle.
  2. Keep the M-PESA confirmation SMS and its transaction code.
  3. If it still has not settled after 48 hours, raise it with Uber driver support and quote the transaction code.
  4. If the money left M-PESA but never reached Uber, see how M-PESA reversals work.

Paying Bolt commission

Bolt charges 18% on every trip, cash or card, plus 16% VAT on that commission since 1 April 2025. Commission is not charged on tips, bonuses, tolls, cancellation fees or booking fees. To pay what you owe from cash trips:

  1. In the Bolt Driver app, open Balance.
  2. Tap Pay to Bolt and view the payment details.
  3. Select M-PESA, enter your number and send the prompt.
  4. Approve the prompt on your phone.

Glovo riders: cash orders and cash-outs

On Glovo, cash a customer hands you is deducted from your next payout, and you can clear cash on hand early with a cash-out. Glovo's Kenya Rider Hub says to deposit through M-PESA to paybill 510800 with your Rider ID (from My Profile in the Rider app) as the account number. Earnings are paid by bank transfer.

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